For trailing 12 month financials, operating lease and R&D data, I draw on Capital IQ which has
a very rich and updated database, as well as Morningstar Direct and Bloomberg.

Europe

I used to get the raw data from Bloomberg but I have started
using Capital IQ with this update. You will notice that two big changes
as a consequence. First, the data is all reported in US dollars for all
compannies making comparisons across markets simpler. Second, I have modified
the Capital IQ industry categorization and created one of my own (based
on the Value Line industry categoriztion).

Emerging Markets

Japan

2. Data Timeliness

I update the data roughly once every year. The market data (stock prices,
market capitalization, beta) reflect the date of the update. In other words,
if the update is on January 25, the market data is within a day or two of the
update. The accounting data is messier since it reflects the most recent financial
statements.

Data Source

U.S.

Most of the accounting data reflects the most recent annual annual
report or 10K. The trailing 12 month net income and sales reflect the
numbers as of the last four quarters.

Europe

The data for most companies reflects the most recent trailing
twelve month data, where that data is available. In countries where quarterly
reports are not the norm, the most recent numbers come from the most recent
annual report. Since annual reports do not get filed until a few months
after the fiscal year, the January updates will reflect the previous year
fiscal year end. In other words, the January 2010 update will reflect the
fiscal year ended December 2008. The stock price and market cap data
should be as of the month of the update.